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A DNA test for Fucosidosis in dogs
What is Fucosidosis?
A DNA test for Fucosidosis
Breeds at risk
Breeding policy
Most important is the control of hereditary disorders in breeding programmes. In
order to reduce the frequency of a genetic defect or eliminate it altogether, the
further spread of the mutant gene has to be prevented. When we find an inherited
disorder in our population (in our breed), especially when the frequency of affected
animals is quite high, most of us would want to exclude all animals that carry the
defective allele on the shortest possible term. That's not always the best thing to
do. Eliminating all affected animals and all carriers from our breeding programmes
in just one generation might result in a tremendous reduction of the breed's gene
pool, which could cause an enormous increase of the level of inbreeding. As a
consequence problems with the vitality of the population would increase and we
probably would see outbreaks of other genetic disorders.
Each dog with the defective allele has many good and important genes that may be
worthwhile to preserve in the population. Selection programmes should be carried
out slowly and carefully, taking a sufficient number of generations to prevent
overselection. That is where the breeders' organizations should take their
responsibility towards their breeds. With the availability of a DNA test for
disorders like Fucosidosis, selection programmes can be extended to the number
of generations needed to make sure that no harm is done to the breed's gene pool.
Testing for Fucosidosis
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